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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ultimate Bay Boy and Strong Heroine to Save Him!, January 2, 2002
This review is from: Darkling I Listen (Paperback)
This is the first book I have ever read where the heroine was the one who saves the hero. It was awesome! I loved it! Talk about 'bad boy'!!! This was the ULTIMATE in bad boys. No weak female lead here with the desire to 'turn him around' for her benefit. The heroine, Alyson James, is all woman, but very real and simply wants to help the hero, Brandon Carlyle, from his demons that plague him. Lots of heated scenes here and the suspense is real and will make your heart beat a little faster. This would be excellent in the theatre! ~Hollywood bad boy, Brandon Carlyle, is being stalked and harassed by some woman calling herself "Anticipating' for the past 5 years. Up until now he has ignored her and tried to live his life. The only problem though is he has spent the last 3 years in prison for manslaughter. His acting career on the rocks, he goes home to Ticky Creek, Texas for a break and a much needed rest when the stalker Anticipating has found him again and this time wants him dead! A beautiful stranger, Alyson James is going to get the story of her life, the only problem is the hollywood 'hellion' doesn't want anyone around while he spends endless hours hanging around his uncles and aunts farm. Aly knows a lot about him, since she was the very reporter who opened the story of his alcoholism so many years ago, but he doesn't know she was the one who practically ruined his life and career with that story. Now she intends to somewhat, make 'ammends' with an autobiography with his own words, but she soon learns, a menacing stalker is after him and now her as she gets too close. Secrets abound in the small town and the swamps hold many more dark secrets Aly must solve before its too late. Anticipating is here...she is waiting...Aly can't seem to stop falling in love with the man who's heart and soul is deeper than an ocean and filled with sorrow. She must save him...save him from himself and a woman calling herself Anticipating... Unbelieveable! Worthy of 10 stars! The suspense is creepy and Ms. Sutcliffe really takes us on a rollarcoaster ride of emotions and secrets. I would love to see this on the big screen, it would be a hit! (and man oh man is Brandon sexy...whew...) Tracy Talley~@
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent book by any standard, May 30, 2003
This review is from: Darkling I Listen (Paperback)
Brandon Carlyle, a famous movie actor, has the image of a Hollywood bad boy. Brandon is now in hiding after spending three years in prison for manslaughter. He has sought refuge in the small town he grew up in, Ticky Creek, Texas and is living with his beloved aunt and uncle seeking peace and quiet. Although Brandon was at the top of his movie career when he was sent to prison, the offers for acting are now few and insignificant. Now on parole, he relishes the time he is spending with his aunt and uncle, works hard on their ranch/farm, and is questioning what he will do with the rest of his life. He is still young enough to have many acting years ahead. But, what really counts in life? When we first meet Brandon, he is in a depressed state, asking himself these questions and we can see his inner turmoil and identify favorably with him. He doesn't act out his previous bad boy image and fights to maintain a cool head and stay completely away from what could be considered inappropriate behavior. Of course, he is very handsome and tremendously sexy. Brandon is protected from the outside world by Ticky Creeks' residents who cherish him and keep his whereabouts secret. Alyson (Aly) James is a tabloid writer looking for one last big story that will hopefully provide her with the funds to change her life. Aly has found that big story - she has discovered Brandon's hiding place and wants to be the one to reveal the latest about Brandon Carlyle. Yes, Aly's plans for exposing Brandon are not honorable and she does have a sleazy tabloid background. However, she is a fantastic heroine - one of my favorites. In fact, her description of such a career in reviews of this book, kept me from reading it for some time. I just could not imagine her in a positive light. But the author pulls it off. We read about a heroine who is strong, understanding, kind, and empathetic. She decides that she cannot continue her past career as she gets to know Brandon and his family. She now fully sees that there is always another side to a story. In the case of Brandon Carlyle, his story has an overwhelming and sad side. Darkling I Listen is definitely a very serious, dramatic story. There are a few humorous lines but mostly it lives up to its name in that it is a very dark tale. Brandon and Aly have a great amount of interaction for the first three-fourths of the book. We are in for a stimulating and intensive read as we see Brandon come out of his shell and are allowed to observe the secrets of his agonizing past. Aly plays well into Brandon's recovery. She shows much more character than her past would indicate. The sensual portions of the book have been described by other(s) as some of the most sensual they have read. Although well written and meaningful, these scenes rate about a 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Yes, some of these scenes fall closer to a 4.5 rating but the scenes are infrequent and therefore my reasoning for a 4.0 sensual rating. This is not a book in which you miss sensual scenes. You are so caught up in the entire book that they simply help round out a very beautiful story. Although this is a definite five star rated book, there still were a couple of troubling aspects. First the suspenseful ending of the book was just too much. It was too graphic and violent for my tastes. Second, the epilogue is squandered. It is spent on the many secondary characters (both good and evil) appearing all at the same time to explain their part in Brandon's misery and seek his forgiveness. I wanted interaction between the leads. Instead, I felt that the author wasted the entire epilogue tying up loose ends that we as readers already understood completely. Darkling I Listen is an excellent, excellent book! It is a deeply moving and multifaceted story. With the exception of the violent final portion of the book, this tale lacks nothing. It is truly great reading. This is my first of Sutcliffe's books and I will keep it to read another day. I look forward to reading her other books and have just started her newest, Bad Moon Rising.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darkling I Listen, September 6, 2001
This review is from: Darkling I Listen (Paperback)
There I was taking a chance NEVER thinking for a minute that I would find anything remotely enjoyable about this book. I saw the name Katherine Sutcliffe and I thought to myself "What is she doing writing a suspense book?" I waited two days to read it (I am kicking myself for that now). I read the first page and I was hooked. Brandon had all the complexities of Nicholas Sabre Esquire (if you are a true fan you know who that is!) but he had more edge to him. I kept thinking why is he so angry and hurt and when I found out I cried oh how I cried.Alyson was wonderful, a heroine with just the right amount of spunk. The town of Ticky Creek would make you want to move there. This book is beautiful! I cannot say that I have read a better book this year and I have read a lot of books! This book is amazing. The characters are well developed with foibles and all the redeeming qaulities that make us human. They come to life in "Darkling" as Katherine weaves a tale of both love and terror. I highly recomend this book to anyone who loves to read and especially to KS fans. I can go on and on but I won't. I am usually a sceptic when it comes to authors moving outside of their genres but I have learned my lesson and what better way of learning it than with this book. Do something really good for yourself and buy this book!
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